In our quest to find the best Bluetooth speaker, we consider factors such as battery life, sound quality and more – below, we present our current competitors, including compact mini models, micro pocket versions and more robust models with powerful audio. Want more? We can also recommend best smart speakers and the best Wi-Fi speakers and music systems.
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For $ 33, Tribit XSound Go is one of the best Bluetooth speakers for the money. In addition to sounding decent for streaming your favorite music and more, this affordable Bluetooth speaker is also fully waterproof. Read our review of Tribit XSound Go.
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This fully waterproof wireless Bluetooth speaker (IPX7) has not only improved battery life and improved sound than Clip 2, but is also more durable, according to JBL, thanks to the integrated carabiner surrounding the entire perimeter of the speaker, acting as a bumper. It has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery and is one of the best wireless Bluetooth speakers due to its tiny size. This portable bluetooth speaker sells for $ 70. Read our review of the JBL Clip 3.
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The Ultimate Ears Boom Bluetooth speakers come in a few different sizes, but none of them are as big as the new Hyberboom. An oversized wireless speaker that weighs 13 pounds on the scale, Hyperboom makes the UE Megaboom 3 look unquestionably insignificant. It’s not cheap, but its sound quality is better than many portable jumbo speakers on the market today.
EU Boom representatives told me that Hyperboom was created after the company obtained feedback from its customers in search of a bigger speaker that could play loud enough and have bass deep enough to fuel a party. The speaker can do just that – Ultimate Ears says it is three times taller and six and a half times as low as the Megaboom 3 – and has no problem filling a reasonably large room with sound. Read our first take on UE Hyperboom.
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The Tribit MaxSound Plus ($ 58) is about 30% bigger than its brother XSound Go and costs about $ 25 more, but it performs substantially better and is one of the best-sounding speakers in its size and price class. It features a long-lasting rechargeable lithium-ion battery and superior sound quality for a Bluetooth speaker. Read our review of Tribit MaxSound Plus.
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Tribit’s StormBox speaker looks like a cross between an EU speaker and a JBL speaker. We suspect it is not an accident. This fully waterproof speaker costs about $ 50 less than the JBL Flip 5 and produces a bigger sound and has a battery of up to 20 hours to play music and more. Tribit’s XSound speakers are probably a better value, but the Stormbox is more elegant.
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We liked the original Wonderboom Bluetooth speaker from Ultimate Ears, which looked good for its compact size and was also waterproof. Now the company has released Wonderboom 2, which is slightly larger than the original and sounds a little better for streaming your favorite music, with more bass and a special Outdoor Boost mode that increases the treble.
Like its predecessor, the fully waterproof Wonderboom 2 with Bluetooth connection has a list price of $ 100, but is generally sold for less. What is different is the IP67 rating, which means that it is dustproof, more shock resistant and also able to float. This bluetooth device also has 30% better battery life – lasting up to 13 hours at moderate volume levels, according to Ultimate Ears – and you can connect two to create a pair of stereo sound at the press of a button on each speaker.
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Bose SoundLink Micro is arguably the best-sounding speaker for its tiny size. Although this Bose SoundLink is a little expensive, Bose cut $ 10 off its list price, lowering it to $ 99. It is a fully waterproof bluetooth speaker and available in three Bose SoundLink color options. Read our review of the Bose SoundLink Micro.
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The JBL Flip 5 ($ 120) is slightly larger than the Flip 4, with improved sound performance and slightly more bass. It has IPX7 waterproof certification, which means that this small speaker can be submerged in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes and survive. The Tribit’s StormBox costs about $ 30 less and plays louder, but I like the Flip 5’s tonal balance more. It also offers USB-C charging, which is better for the future.
Sonos Move is the company’s first portable internal / external Bluetooth speaker, complete with a built-in rechargeable battery that is good for 900 charges or about three years and is replaceable. It is Wi-Fi enabled and can be connected to other Sonos speakers in your home system – Sonos says Move has the best Wi-Fi connectivity of any of its speakers to date. It also has a Bluetooth connection, so you can get it out of range of your Wi-Fi network and stream directly from your Android, iPhone or any Bluetooth enabled audio device. Read our review of Sonos Move.
Bose
The new portable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker from Bose is more compact and easier to carry than Sonos Move and costs a little less. This Bose speaker offers a very loud sound for its relatively small size and connects with other speakers in the brand’s Wi-Fi Home speaker line to create a multiroom audio system. Read our Bose portable home speaker first.